Effects of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy on stone forming risk factors

It has been reported in some definite studies that ESWL causes transient deterioration in renal haemodynamics and function. Again certain parameters in blood and urine have been used in order to assess this functional deterioration and different results are reported. In our present study we aimed to describe the adverse effects of shock waves on the excretion of urinary metabolites such as electrolytes, oxalate and citrate. Evaluation of our results in 30 patients revealed that although exposure to shock waves during ESWL for symptomatic renal calculi causes a slight increase in the urinary level of metabolites, all of these changes remained in normal range and no statistically significant changes in the urinary level of the aforementioned parameters could be demonstrated.